Keyword: Florida DPMW

Gulfstream Park and Calder Casino & Race Course are heading into the June 27-29 weekend they hoped would be their last with head-to-head racing, and it appears both will continue racing through at least early July.

Establish racing and breeding organizations in Florida are united in opposition to a new Ocala-area Quarter Horse track it contends has several safety issues and only is concerned about offer poker and full-card simulcasts.

Gulfstream Park moved ahead of Tampa Bay Downs during November in Florida's three-way competition for host-track simulcast business, according to data released Dec. 12 by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.

Calder Casino & Race Course provided more details on its ban on the return of shippers that race at Gulfstream Park June 29, and several trainers responded by making plans to move their stables cross-town to Gulfstream.

Gulfstream Park and Calder Casino & Race Course apparently have failed to strike a deal on racing dates, meaning they could race head-to-head on all Saturdays and Sundays during the year beginning July 1.

The battle over racing dates in southeast Florida became more intense Feb. 22 when Calder informed the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering that it plans to have racing every weekend from July 1 through June 30, 2014.

In its preliminary filing for racing dates, Calder Casino & Race Course told the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering it plans no change in its racing schedule for the 12 months beginning July 1, 2013.

The Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering late in the afternoon Oct. 19 approved an application by Gretna Racing LLC to use its Quarter Horse permit to conduct pari-mutuel barrel racing at its facility in Gretna, Fla.

In an application that is generating controversy over the use of racing permits, a Quarter Horse permit-holder in Gretna, Fla., has asked the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering for permission to hold barrel racing.

Calder announced Feb. 26 that it will allow horses that have shipped to other racetracks to compete in races at other venues to re-enter the Calder stable area and continue to use assigned stalls in the Calder stable area.

Calder officials said that starting Feb. 26 their track will not allow horses that ship from Calder to race at Gulfstream Park to re-enter Calder without the prior written approval from Calder's racing secretary.

The biggest issue at Calder Casino & Race Course Jan. 4, closing day of its 2010-11 meet, was a fast-brewing and potentially bitter dispute with Gulfstream Park over southeast Florida's attractive December racing dates.

Gulfstream Park will open its 2011 racing meet Jan. 5 with a new Sunday date for the Florida Derby (gr. I), other changes in its stakes schedule, and new multi-race bets highlighted by a 10-cent only Pick 6.

Calder Race Course March 31 submitted its final filing for 2009-10 racing dates to the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, and it confirms earlier reports that Calder will not run head-to-head with nearby Gulfstream Park during that period.